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Wisconsin GOP holds on to Senate

Alberta Darling was one of four Republican victors in Tuesday's recall elections. |
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Two Democratic state senators still face recall elections next Tuesday.

“Tonight’s results demonstrate that responsible budgeting measures and job creating policies can prevail over mountains of liberal special interest money from those fighting to maintain the unsustainable status quo,” said Chris Jankowski, president of the Republican State Leadership Committee, one of the many outside groups whose spending on the recalls made them a national affair. “This tremendous victory is a significant step toward returning government to the people and protecting the hard-working American family and businessperson. By beating back countless liberal special interest dollars and paid supporters, the strength of responsible Republican ideals is obvious and foreshadows continued Republican victories in 2011, 2012 and beyond.”

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The recall elections marked Democrats’ first big chance to make Republicans pay a political price for supporting Walker’s push to weaken organized labor, six months after Madison exploded in protest.

Polls closed at 8 p.m. CST, amid reports of high turnout across the state.

“Some areas are looking at presidential-year turnout, but certainly we’re at least looking at gubernatorial-year turnout,” said John Hogan, head of campaign efforts for the state Senate Republicans.

The run-up to the recalls saw unprecedented amounts of money poured onto Wisconsin airwaves, with the candidates and independent groups combining to spend well over $30 million. The conservative Club for Growth, Democratic-leaning We Are Wisconsin, the Republican State Leadership Committee and the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee are among more than 10 outside groups that bought TV time leading up to the recalls.

Hundreds of activists on both sides spilled into the state in the closing days to pump up turnout.

Kory Kozloski, executive director of the state Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, said the large number of signatures collected to spur the recall efforts was an achievement in its own right.

“The people of Wisconsin have very clearly spoken throughout this process,” he said. “They’re not happy with how this was jammed through the Legislature.”

Readers' Comments (1225)

ONE thing is for sure. Americans NEED to see a win here. America needs to know that the REAL power and JUSTICE in this country is in the hands of the public - NOT IN THE HANDS OF GROUPS LIKE CITIZENS UNITED.

Democrats need to take back their leadership and show politicians like Scott Walker that they CANNOT choose to lower our standaard of living just to line their own pockets and promote their own UPWARD MOBILITY.

Ugh, it doesn't look good. In fact, the vote looks surprisingly consistent: mid fifties to mid forties across a LOT of the races--and most in favor of Republicans. I noted the 55-47 consistency when there were less than 20% of the precincts reporting, but now several have gone up to 40-72% and two races have been called on almost exactly the same split: 55-47...and just about all the other races are STILL at that same split, in spite of more precincts in.

Walker signs new state and congressional maps today, quietly and privately.

Now, the two maps head for court. Today's six elections are based on maps from 10 years ago and

were also drawn for Repubs.

Repubs------money matters ;; Dems------people matter

Dems----blow another remap they controlled in West Virginia by being "fair and balanced"

Repubs----don't have that disease, would rather go to court, never compromise

Ever notice when you libs don't get your way its all this screaming and stomping. Finished off with all the excuses in the world. Nothing you could ever do could be the cause. They needed to do this union crap just before the elections so people already fed up can totally explode at the ballot box. You sell on hype and get slapped in the face and are suprised at the outcomes.

No Repubs can be happy with three tough races in Repub areas. The handwriting is on the wall.

One Dem Wins, two are barely winning

Look at it this way. Who cares. The vote counts are so close and so low a number its almost funny. Only liberals could be looking for anything to come out of that. That just shows how desperate you are for any HOPE.

I look at it more like this. The unions have been pounding money in by the bushels. Who would be spending money on countering. Thats the best you could get. If at best a 50/50 split. Priceless. But then again. Its not your money being wasted away because you got your feeeeewings upset and need to prove a point about nothing.

Personally I wish they had done this in about 8/2012. Unions are just parasites on society.